Patents by Inventor Fred H. Mehlman

Fred H. Mehlman has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240082800
    Abstract: Provided are blender systems and methods that selectively control fan operation within the blender systems. For example, a blender system includes at least a fan, a blade assembly, and a motor used to operatively drive the blade assembly for blending. Operation of the fan may be independent of the operation of the motor. One or more operating parameters of the fan may be adjusted to selectively control the operation of the fan when one or more conditions are met. Adjusting the one or more operating parameters of the fan may include increasing or decreasing a speed of the fan. Further, adjusting the one or more operating parameters of the fan may include powering on or powering off the fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: David Kolar, Fred H. Mehlman, Bradford J. Paskert
  • Patent number: 11865504
    Abstract: A blender system includes a blender base that is selectively and operably engaged with a container. The blender base may include a housing that houses a motor operatively driving a mixing blade, and a fan. The fan may operate independent of the motor. The fan may force air through the blender base to cool the motor and other operative components of the blender base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: VITA-MIX MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Kolar, Fred H. Mehlman, Bradford J. Paskert
  • Publication number: 20220240724
    Abstract: A blending system includes a blender base. The blender base includes a housing. The housing defines a cavity. A motor is disposed within the cavity. An insulating material is disposed between the housing and the cavity. The insulating material defines air channels. The air channels are in fluid communication with a fan. The fan operates independent of the motor. The motor is suspended from a suspension bracket. The suspension bracket isolates the motor from the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: David KOLAR, Casey ZALE, Fred H. MEHLMAN
  • Publication number: 20220192426
    Abstract: A blending system is disclosed herein. The blending system may comprise a blender base, a container and a blending volume reduction device. The blending volume reduction device may be removably inserted into the container of the blender system at various positions. The positions may alter the working volume of the container when the blending volume reduction device is inserted in the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Eugene J. Kozlowski, Mark F. Fleming, David J> Kolar, Stephen Hosey, Fred H. Mehlman, Jonathan Emerson, Brian Harvanec, Richard D. Boozer, Stephen P. Rukavina
  • Patent number: 11116362
    Abstract: A blending system is disclosed herein. The blending system may comprise a blender base, a container and a blending volume reduction device. The blending volume reduction device may be removably inserted into the container of the blender system at various positions. The positions may alter the working volume of the container when the blending volume reduction device is inserted in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: VITA-MIX MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eugene J. Kozlowski, Mark F. Fleming, David J. Kolar, Stephen Hosey, Fred H. Mehlman, Jonathan Emerson, Brian Harvanec, Richard D. Boozer, Stephen P. Rukavina
  • Publication number: 20210101124
    Abstract: A blender system includes a blender base that is selectively and operably engaged with a container. The blender base may include a housing that houses a motor operatively driving a mixing blade, and a fan. The fan may operate independent of the motor. The fan may force air through the blender base to cool the motor and other operative components of the blender base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: David Kolar, Fred H. Mehlman, Bradford J. Paskert
  • Patent number: 10835081
    Abstract: A blending system is provided for identifying a blending container. The blending system may include an attachment member that attaches to a blending container. The attachment member may include an identification tag. A receiving system may communicate with the identification tag to identify the container. The receiving system may measure characteristics of the blending container. The characteristics can be compared to stored characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: VITA-MIX MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: David J. Kolar, Fred H. Mehlman
  • Patent number: 10773227
    Abstract: A blender system includes a blender base that is selectively and operably engaged with a container. The blender base may include a housing that houses a motor operatively driving a mixing blade, and a fan. The fan may operate independent of the motor. The fan may force air through the blender base to cool the motor and other operative components of the blender base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: VITA-MIX MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Kolar, Fred H. Mehlman, Bradford J. Paskert
  • Patent number: 10562672
    Abstract: A blending system includes a blending container having a base surface. The container also has a side wall extending upwardly from said base surface and a sound sleeve extending upwardly from said base surface and encasing the side wall. The container may also have a viscoelastic material positioned between the side wall and the sound sleeve extending upwardly from said base surface. In one embodiment, a blender has a base containing a motor and the container described above and the container is able to attach and engage with the motor and the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Vita-Mix Management Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Kolar, Jack W. Gee, II, Fred H. Mehlman
  • Publication number: 20190298109
    Abstract: A blending system is disclosed herein. The blending system may comprise a blender base, a container and a blending volume reduction device. The blending volume reduction device may be removably inserted into the container of the blender system at various positions. The positions may alter the working volume of the container when the blending volume reduction device is inserted in the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Eugene J. Kozlowski, Mark F. Fleming, David J. Kolar, Stephen Hosey, Fred H. Mehlman, Jonathan Emerson, Brian Harvanec, Richard D. Boozer, Stephen P. Rukavina
  • Patent number: 10321785
    Abstract: A blending system is disclosed herein. The blending system may comprise a blender base, a container and a blending volume reduction device. The blending volume reduction device may be removably inserted into the container of the blender system at various positions. The positions may alter the working volume of the container when the blending volume reduction device is inserted in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Vita-Mix Management Corporation
    Inventors: Eugene J. Kozlowski, Mark F. Fleming, David J. Kolar, Stephen Hosey, Fred H. Mehlman, Jonathan Emerson, Brian Harvanec, Richard D. Boozer, Stephen P. Rukavina
  • Publication number: 20170296992
    Abstract: A blender system includes a blender base that is selectively and operably engaged with a container. The blender base may include a housing that houses a motor operatively driving a mixing blade, and a fan. The fan may operate independent of the motor. The fan may force air through the blender base to cool the motor and other operative components of the blender base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: David Kolar, Fred H. Mehlman
  • Patent number: 9635981
    Abstract: A food processing assembly (20) includes a base member (21), a container (22) and a cover (23). The base member (21) has a platform portion (26) adapted to carry the container (22) and a housing portion (25) for a motor. A wall (29) of the housing (25) has a plurality of air inlet slots (35) and a gutter (37) protects the slots (35) from receiving any liquid which might be on the base member (21). The container (22) has a sidewall (52) with an open top that has a peripheral rim (57). A cover (23) includes a tab assembly (73) that has a notch (70) to receive the rim (57). The vertical lifting of a handle portion (77) of the tab assembly (73) removes the cover (23) from the container (22). A spout (61) and a handle (60) are formed near the top of the container (22). A heat shield (62) includes a body portion (63) which is attached to the sidewall (52) at a location under the spout (61), and it also includes a flap (62).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Vita-Mix Corporation
    Inventors: John K. Barnard, Richard D. Boozer, Eugene J. Kozlowski, Fred H. Mehlman, Robert M. Ulanski
  • Publication number: 20170071227
    Abstract: A modular blending system including a bin is provided; the bin being for consumable products has a well in the bottom thereof. A bottom surface of the bin is sloped from substantially a plurality of sides toward the well to facilitate evacuation of the consumable product into and through the well. An outlet fixture connected through an opening in the well may be connected to a dispenser, thereby allowing evacuation of the consumable product from the well to the dispenser. The bin may also have side walls for supporting the bin, and/or a lid for covering at least a portion of the top of the bin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: David J. Kolar, Fred H. Mehlman
  • Publication number: 20160256004
    Abstract: A blending system is provided for identifying a blending container. The blending system may include an attachment member that attaches to a blending container. The attachment member may include an identification tag. A receiving system may communicate with the identification tag to identify the container. The receiving system may measure characteristics of the blending container. The characteristics can be compared to stored characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: David J. Kolar, Fred H. Mehlman
  • Patent number: D797496
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: VITA-MIX MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jack W. Gee, II, Fred H. Mehlman, Eugene J. Kozlowski, Robin Shorr, Phonesacksith Guy Kettavong, Christian C. Stewart, Steffen Koury, Paul Metaxatos, Benjamin T. Hines, Brendan Boyd Crawford, James Troy McGee
  • Patent number: D844370
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: VITA-MIX MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jack W. Gee, Fred H. Mehlman, Eugene J. Kozlowski, Robin Shorr, Phonesacksith Guy Kettavong, Christian C. Stewart, Steffen Koury, Paul Metaxatos, Benjamin T. Hines, Brendan Boyd Crawford, James Troy McGee
  • Patent number: D863873
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: VITA-MIX MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Phonesacksith Guy Kettavong, Fred H. Mehlman, Rebecca Hammond, David Kolar
  • Patent number: D877557
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Vita-Mix Management Corporation
    Inventors: Jack W. Gee, Fred H. Mehlman, Eugene J. Kozlowski, Robin Shorr, Phonesacksith Guy Kettavong, Christian C. Stewart, Steffen Koury, Paul Metaxatos, Benjamin T. Hines, Brendan Boyd Crawford, James Troy McGee
  • Patent number: D907429
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: VITA-MIX MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jack W. Gee, Fred H. Mehlman, Eugene J. Kozlowski, Robin Shorr, Phonesacksith Guy Kettavong, Christian C. Stewart, Steffen Koury, Paul Metaxatos, James Troy McGee, Brendan Boyd Crawford, Benjamin T. Hines